Petunia plant named ‘Dopetsunye’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Dopetsunye’, characterized by its upright and mounding to semi-trailing plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; flowers that are bright yellow in color; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: (Petunia x hybrida) X Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOPETSUNYE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petuniaplant, botanically known as (Petunia x hybrida) X Calibrachoa sp. andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dopetsunye’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Encinitas, Calif. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new moderately vigorous and moundingPetunia plants with numerous attractive flowers.

The new Petunia plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of aproprietary selection of (Petunia x hybrida) X Calibrachoa sp.identified as code number TT-0809, not patented. The new Petunia plantwas discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plantwithin a population of plants of the parent selection in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. on Apr. 20, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by terminal vegetativecuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif.since Jun. 1, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this newPetunia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Dopetsunye’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Dopetsunye’ as a new and distinct Petuniaplant:

-   -   1. Upright and mounding to semi-trailing plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Flowers that are bright yellow in color.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the parentselection. Plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of theparent selection in flower color as plants of the parent selection havelighter yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of Petunia sensu XCalibrachoa sp. ‘Dancalipet’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,063.Plants of the new Petunia and ‘Dancalipet’ differ primarily in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more vigorous than plants of        ‘Dancalipet’.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have slightly larger flowers than        plants of ‘Dancalipet’.    -   3. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘Dancalipet’ differ in flower        color as plants of ‘Dancalipet’ have red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can also be compared to plants of (Petunia xhybrida) X Calibrachoa sp. ‘Duesunblu’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.29,156. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘Duesunblu’ differ primarily inthe following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more mounding than and not as        trailing as plants of ‘Duesunblu’.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘Duesunblu’ differ in flower        color as plants of ‘Duesunblu’ have dark violet-colored flowers        with dark purple-colored centers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Petunia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Dopetsunye’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘Dopetsunye’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the early spring in 15-cmcontainers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif. andunder cultural practices typical of commercial Petunia production.During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 25° C.,night temperatures averaged 20° C. and light levels ranged from 4,000lux to 4,500 lux. Plants were twelve weeks old when the photographs anddescription were taken. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: (Petunia x hybrida) X Calibrachoa sp.    ‘Dopetsunye’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of a proprietary    selection of (Petunia x hybrida) X Calibrachoa sp. identified as    code number TT-0809, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About five to            seven days at night temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and            winter.—About three weeks at night temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,            actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and mounding to            semi-trailing plant habit; freely branching habit with about            five basal (primary) lateral branches, each primary lateral            branch with secondary and tertiary laterals potentially            developing at every node; moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 19 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 33 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 15.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 4 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1.7 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Initially upright then becoming semi-trailing with            development.        -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent, minute; matte.        -   Color, developing and developed.—Close to 146B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate; after flowering,            opposite; simple.        -   Length.—About 4 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.75 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptical with ovate tendencies.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate with cuneate tendencies.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent,            minute; slightly glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A; venation,            close to 146A to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface:            Close to 146B; venation, close to 146B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Pubescent, minute; slightly glossy. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers            arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with flowers            potentially developing at every node and typically more than            300 flowers per plant will develop during the flowering            season; flowers face upright to outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously during            the summer in Southern California; early flowering habit,            plants typically beginning flowering about seven weeks from            unrooted cuttings.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about four to            seven days on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Flower buds (prior to petal appearance).—Length: About            1.35 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Shape: Elongated. Texture and            luster: Pubescent, minute; matte. Color: Close to 146A.        -   Flower diameter.—About 4.25 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 3.6 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 9 mm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 2.2 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter, middle.—About 5 mm.        -   Flower tube diameter, base.—About 4 mm.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and            opening into a flared trumpet. Petal lobe length (from            throat): About 2 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2 cm. Petal            shape: Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Rounded with a short            central point. Petal margin: Entire; slightly undulate.            Petal texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;            satiny; slightly glossy. Petal texture and luster, lower            surface: Pubescent, minute; slightly glossy. Throat texture            and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Tube texture            and luster: Pubescent, minute; slightly glossy. Color: Petal            lobe, when opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to            5A to 5C; venation, close to 6A; color does not change with            development. Petal lobe, when opening and fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 4B to 4C; venation, close to 144A;            color does not change with development. Flower throat: Close            to 9A; venation, close to 59A. Flower tube: Close to 4B to            4C; venation, close to 144A.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Five sepals fused at the base forming a            star-shaped calyx. Calyx length: About 1.8 cm. Calyx            diameter: About 2.2 cm. Sepal length: About 1.9 cm. Sepal            width: About 3 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex:            Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Pubescent, minute; matte. Color: When            opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 146A. When            opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 146A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.3 cm. Diameter: About 1.25 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 45° from lateral            stem axis. Texture and luster: Pubescent, minute; matte.            Color: Close to 146A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.            Filament length: About 1.4 cm. Filament color: Close to            NN155A. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Nearly            round. Anther color: Close to 12B to 12C. Pollen amount:            None observed. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil            length: About 1.5 cm. Style length: About 1.3 cm. Style            color: Close to NN155A. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma            shape: Rounded. Stigma color: Close to 145A. Ovary color:            Close to 145D. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development            have not been observed on plants of the new Petunia to date.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to    have good garden performance and tolerate full sunlight conditions,    wind, rain and temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Petunia    plants to date.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘Dopetsunye’ asillustrated and described.